Saison

Funkwerks’ flagship Saison was awarded a gold medal at the 2012 Great American Beer Festival and a silver medal in 2011 for the French- and Belgian-Style Saison category.

ABV: 6.8

ABW: 5.44

COLOR: 4

BITTERNESS: 21

ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 1055

AVAILABLE: AZ, CO, NE

This interpretation of the Belgian style has a pale gold color and heavy collar of foam. The aroma is rich and perfumy, with ripe pear fruit and freshly peeled cobnuts, underscored by peppery hops. Creamy malt dominates the palate with continuing notes of ripe fruit and peppery hops. The finish is soft, creamy and fruity with a solid base of peppery hops.- Roger Protz

The beer pours hazy antique gold, and despite my coaxing, it refuses to produce much of a head. The aroma is a blend of floral hops and a fermentation coming off its usual rails, like milk at the edge of souring. The palate is clean, lightly hopped, gently carbonated and fairly bright, with just the slightest edge of acidity. The finish is short; wheaty flavors linger. The wilder elements of this beer are young, and I think that it will soon show greater depths. In the meantime, it’s already terrific with grilled salmon.- Garrett Oliver

Roger ProtzAuthor of 300 Beers to Try Before You Die and 300 More Beers to Try Before You Die. Respected beer authority and editor of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide and www.protzonbeer.co.uk.

Garrett OliverGarrett Oliver is the brewmaster of The Brooklyn Brewery, the Editor-in-Chief of The Oxford Companion to Beer, the author of The Brewmaster’s Table, and the veteran host of more than 900 beer dinners in 15 countries.